Tu BiSh'vat Seder - Reform Judaism

Tu Bi Sh’vat Seder
Temple B’nai Shalom Sisterhood
Jan 31, 2010
Compiled By
Sandi Kleinman and Deborah Coblenz
“The earth sent forth vegetation, plants bearing their own kinds of seeds, and trees
producing fruits containing their own kinds of seeds. God saw that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:12)

INTRODUCTION TO SEDER
Leader: On the 15 th
day of the month of Sh’vat the Jewish community celebrates the
holiday of Tu BiSh’vat, or what is commonly known as the “New Year for the Trees”. It is
a time of year when we celebrate and honor the sacred and unique connection which
exists between Judaism and nature; a time when we remember the biblical teaching
that “the tree of the fields is man’s life” (Deuteronomy 20:19).
Additionally, it is at this time of year that we remember that spring is not too far away.
Tu BiSh’vat marks the time that spring traditionally begins in Israel. It is a time when the
winter rain subsides and budding begins. It is for this reason that we commonly eat
fruits native to Eretz Yisrael – barley, dates, figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives, and
wheat.
The Tu BiSh’vat seder was created in the 16th by Isaac Luria and other Kabbalists. The
seder is full of imagery and symbolism meant to mark the four season. Additionally, the
seder is split into four “spheres”, each of which represents a different Kabbalistic
relationship that we have with the earth: Assiya (Actualization), Yetzira (Formation),
Beriah (Creation), Atzilut (Nobility).
Additionally, in the nature of this holiday, this seder is a call to action. While the Tu
BiSh’vat seder is meant to be a celebration of our relationship with nature, it is also a
time of education and reflection, a time to look at our impact on the world around us and
change the way to interact with our environment during the coming year.
Reader: Where does the name Tu B’Shvat come from?
The name Tu comes from the combination of the Hebrew letters tet (ט) and vav ( ו)
which have the numerical values of 9 and 6 respectively and are combined to make 15.
The letters yud (י) which has a value of ten and hey (ה) which has a value of five are not
used because they would spell out one of the names of God.
Reader: In Salonica two legends are related concerning Tu B’Shvat. The first states
that an angel hits the head of every plant on this day
saying to it: “Grow.” The second believes that, on this day the trees
embrace. Anyone seeing that embrace will have his or her wish
fulfilled.
Some barren Jewish women, believing in the power of sympathetic
magic, would plant raisins and candy near trees, or embrace
trees on Tu B’Shvat, at night, praying for fertility. Young girls eligible
for marriage were brought to trees where an imitation marriage
was enacted. If, shortly after, buds were found on the tree to which
they were ‘married’ they knew their turn would soon come. In
some areas the Tu B’Shvat celebrations were held in the homes of
families who had lost a beloved during the past year, to remind of
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the prohibition of mourning on that day, and also of the renewal of
life from the trees being parallel to the resurrection.
In southern and rural Morocco, the rich would invite the whole
town to their homes and fill their hats with fruit. In Persia there was
a custom of climbing on the roof and lowering an empty basket
through the chimney which would be returned laden with fruit. In
Turkey there was a custom where each member of the family would
have a special relationship with one species of fruit. In Persia and
Afghanistan, Jews on Tu B’Shvat would purchase new fabrics from
which clothing for Pesach would be sewn. Another custom performed
‘in anticipation’ was to eat jelly made from the last Sukkoth’s etrog,
and then to pray for etrogim of fine quality for the coming Sukkoth.
Reader: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, the wind and the
water, the sky and the sea and although God planted flowers and trees in the
earth’s soil, God refrained from sending rain down. The Torah teaches that only
once God had created man did God allow the vegetation to bloom. Only after God
formed Adam out of the very earth that these plants lay dormant in, only after
there was someone else to watch over their wellbeing, did God allow plant life to
sprout and their seeds to spread. Humans were to be the earth’s caretaker and
guardian, a Shomrei Adamah. And during Adam’s first night in the garden, God
took him by the hand and led him to every seed bearing tree telling Adam “See
my works, how lovely and praiseworthy they are. All that I created, I have created
for you. Be careful though, that you don’t ruin or destroy my world, for if you ruin
it there is no one who will repair it after you” (Kohelet Rabbah on Eccl. 7:13).
Leader: Because Tu B’Shvat is a special day, we recite the Shehecheyanu:
Baruch ata Ado--nai
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
she-he-cheyanu
ve-kiyemanu ve-higi-anu
laz'man ha-zeh
We praise You, Ado--nai our
God, Ruler of the universe
for giving us life,
for sustaining us and for
enabling us to reach this season.
Washing of the Hands
Leader: Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "When the well's dry, only then will we know the
worth of water." Water provides sustenance for our stomachs and souls. It is the home
for millions of plant and animal species and a regulator of world temperature.
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Reader: However, water can also be devastating, causing mudslides and flooding, and
carrying toxins that pollute our environment and endanger our health.
Leader: Trees anchor our soil, soak up our rain, and filter our drinking water. In
essence, they make our life-force, livable. Our ecosystem as a whole and all that
depends on it is completely interconnected. This idea is reflected in the teaching of
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who once taught, “three things are of equal importance:
earth, humans, and rain. Rabbi Levi ben Hiyyata said: ... to teach that without earth,
there is no rain, and without rain, the earth cannot endure, and without either, humans
cannot exist” (Genesis Rabbah, 13:3).
Together, we recite the blessing for the washing of the hands:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam asher kid’shanu
b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al n'tilat yadayim.
Together:
And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month,
because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and
their leaves for healing. –
Ezekiel 47:12
Reader: Trees hold a special place in the Jewish imagination. The Torah is described
as a “tree of life” to those who hold it dear. The two trees in the center of the Garden of
Eden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, figure prominently
in humanity’s birth story. Trees find their way into the greatest biblical love poem, the
Song of Songs, that lovely evocation of a spring in which humanity at last learns how to
live in loving, playful peace with all of earth as well as with each other. And in the
Psalms it is written, “the righteous bloom like a date-palm; they thrive like a cedar in
Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm
92:13-15).
Together:
Source of Creation and Life of the Universe, we gather together on Tu B’Shevat, as
Jews of conscience, with a deep spiritual bond to your natural wonders, to affirm and
preserve creation.
We are grateful for creation in all its majesty: the ever flowing waters, the azure blue
skies, the complex life of Earth’s forests, the myriad of life forms—amoebae and falcon,
black footed ferret and wild turkey, human being and soaring eagle.
The life of all creatures and our own lives are One, profoundly dependent upon each
other.
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We call our ancient scroll of wisdom, the Torah, an Eitz Chayim, a tree of life, for it, like
the Earth’s great forests, sustains us. Torah teaches us that creation, in its great
diversity, is harmoniously interconnected. Like the trees, we too need strong and deep
roots for nourishment.
The uplifted branches of trees point to our future. God, let us be strong, as strong as
ancient trees. The Psalmist was right when he said, “like a tree planted by the waters,
we shall not be moved.”
We are grateful for the life we are lent. We pledge to lift up our voices, both in praise of
You and in defense of Your Creation.
(Rabbi Warren Stone)
Leader: Together we sing:
Etz chayim hi lamachazikim ba,
v’tom’cheha m’ushar.
Shalom, shalom!
It is a tree of life to them that hold fast to it
and all its supporters are happy.
Four Questions
Leader: Of all of God’s creations, why does this holiday honor trees specifically?
Reader: Trees are a symbol of our investment in the future, and because they take so
long to grow, planting them is the most selfless act one can make for their children.
Trees give us shade and food; they purify our waters and house our wildlife. Honoring
trees honors the investment of our ancestors and reminds us of our obligation to our
children.
There is a story told of a righteous man named Honi. One day he saw an old man
planting a carob tree. Honi said to him: "Foolish man, do you think you will live to eat
and enjoy the fruit of the tree you plant today? It will not bear fruit for many, many
years." The old man replied: "I found trees in the world when I was born. My
grandparents planted them for me. Now I am planting for my grandchildren." And so
Honi learned the importance of planting seeds for future generations.
Leader: Why, today, do we specifically eat fruit that is grown in Israel?
Reader: In the Tanach, Isaiah is recorded as prophesizing that “In the days to come
Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, and they will fill the whole world with
fruit” (Isaiah 27:6). For over 2000 years Jews were exiled from living in the Land of
Israel; for over 2000 years the Jewish people were without a home. Now we can fulfill
Isaiah’s prophesy of not only filling the world with fruit, but partaking in its offerings as
well.
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Leader: Why are we thinking about planting when spring is several months away?
Reader: Although it is still winter here, in the Land of Israel one season is ending and
another beginning. It is a period of transformation where “most of the rainy season has
passed and the sap has risen; but the time of ripening has not yet begun” (Rashi on
Rosh HaShanah 14a). Now is the time for us to thank God for the rain for which our
Earth depends and celebrate the start of another season of greenery.
Leader: Why, today, do we remember the importance of conservation and
environmental stewardship?
Reader: When we take our precious resources for granted we overlook their value in
our lives, and we overlook their necessity for the future. This holiday is a time to reflect
on our place in the world around us and to work to improve our relationship with the
environment. Tu BiSh’vat is a time to remind us of the importance of completing God’s
work in the world, the holiest of deeds. The truth of this lesson is attested to in the
teachings of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai who once said: "If you have sapling in your
hand, ready to plant, and the Messiah comes, plant the tree first and then go to greet
him."
[Pour a full glass of white wine]
First Cup – Assiya (Actualization)
Reader:
I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an
appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the
pines
. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862
Leader: We now come to our first cup of white wine, symbolizing the barrenness of
winter. As we recite the blessing we are reminded of the emptiness of the winter
season, the same emptiness that existed before creation. Yet we are also reminded that
just as God formed creation out of nothing, our winter landscape has the potential to
one day change and our dormant plants will again grow, thrive, and blossom into spring.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Leader: The Tu BiSh’vat Seder is split into four sections, each reflecting the seasons
and symbolizing a different way that we relate to trees in our everyday lives. The first
section is assyya or “actualization” and is symbolized by the eating of fruits and nuts
with a hard outside and a fleshy inside.
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Reader: We eat these fruit and nuts to remind us that appearance remains deceiving.
Although seemingly inedible from the outside, each of the foods eaten during assiya,
when peeled or shelled, will transcend their outward appearance. We call this section of
the Seder “actualization” because like winter which has laid dormant for so long, these
fruits and nuts contain in them the unique potential to reveal the hidden secrets of
creation.
Reader: Additionally, because of their hard outsides, these foods represent the human
tendency to judge others on their outer appearance. Judaism teaches us that people
are so much more than they appear, and eating these fruit reminds us that despite our
size, shape, or color, we all carry a divine spark within because each of us is created
B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God.
Leader: We now partake in the first five fruits and nuts of the fifteen that we will be
eating today. On Tu BiSh’vat we are commanded to eat 15 different fruits symbolizing
the 15 days of Sh’vat leading up to this holiday.
[Serve any five of the following hard shell fruits and nuts: Almonds, Walnuts,
Pomegranates, Peanuts, Coconuts, Chestnuts, Pistachios, Bananas etc.]
Together, we recite the following:
or Fruit From a Tree
or Fruit from anywhere other than a tree
ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam bor ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p
i ha-eitz
adamah
lessed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of th essed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the ea
tree
Reader: If you remove one nut from a pile of walnuts, every nut in the pile will be
shaken. Similarly, if one person sins, the whole community will suffer. (Midrash Song of
Songs Rabba 1)
Reader: "The Torah compares humans to trees because, like humans, trees have the
power to grow. And as humans have children, so trees bear fruit. And when a human is
hurt, cries of pain are heard throughout the world, so when a tree is chopped down, its
cries are heard throughout the world." (Rashi)
Reader: Once when Rav Kook was walking in the fields, lost deep in thought, the
young student with him inadvertently plucked a leaf off a branch. Rav Kook was visibly
shaken by this act and, turning to his companion he said gently: “believe me when I tell
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you that I never simply pluck a leaf or a blade of grass or any living thing unless I have
to. Every part of the vegetable world is singing a song and breathing forth a secret of
the divine mystery of the creation.” The words of Rav Kook penetrated deeply into the
mind of the young student: For the first time he understood what it means to show
compassion to all creatures.
-Wisdom of the Jewish Mystics
Second Cup – Yetzira (Formation)
[Pour a nearly full glass of white wine with a few drops of red wine]
.
Leader: The white wine with a dash of red symbolizes the gradual deepening of color
which parallels the reawakening of colors in nature as the sun brings them back to life.
In spring the sun's rays begin to thaw the frozen earth and the first flowers appear on
the hillsides. In the full warmth of spring we go outdoors to be with nature. No longer
coating ourselves in protective attire, we expose our soft bodies to the sun. We eat fruit
containing pits and we are reminded that, despite the wondrous expressions of our
spirit,
we are still tied to the hard pit of our ego. We are still concealed, deep inside, protecting
our divine sparks even from within.
Together:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Leader: This section of our Seder is called Yetzira or “Formation” and it is marked by
eating fruits with pits at their center.
Reader: Although these pits are often discarded, we must remember that they are the
seeds, the means to rebirth. We eat these fruits to remind us that every flowering tree
was once barren, every budding field once bear, and that the means to growth can
sometimes come from the most overlooked of places.
Reader: This lesson translates into how we treat the world. The Talmud teaches us
“Everything that the Holy One, Blessed Be, created in God’s world, God did not create a
single thing in vain” (Shabbat 77B). We eat pitted fruits during Yetzira to remind us that
all of God’s creatures are valuable and significant and that before we discard anything
or anyone, we should take the time to find that value, to explore the hidden spark within
us all.
[Serve any five of the following pitted fruits: Dates, Cherries, Olives, Pears, Plums,
Apricots, Hackberries, Avocados etc.]
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or Fruit From a Tree
or Fruit from anywhere other than a tree
ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p
ri ha-eitz
-adamah
essed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the t essed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit
the earth
Reader:
For the Lord your God
is bringing you
into a good Land
a Land
of brooks of water,
of fountains and depths
springing forth in valleys and hills,
a Land of wheat and barley
and vines and fig trees
and pomegranates,
a Land of olive trees and honey,
a Land wherein
you shall eat bread
without scarceness,
a Land whose stones are iron
and out of whose hills
you may dig brass.
And you shall eat and be satisfied,
and bless the Lord your God
for the good Land
which is being given unto you.
—Deuteronomy 8:7–11
Dayeinu – A Modern Day Interpretation
(read responsively)
Had we purchased 100% recycled paper but not reduced our paper usage… Dayeinu?
Would it be enough?
Had we reduced our paper usage, buying products with less packaging and printing on
scrap paper but never saved electricity…Dayeinu? Would it be enough?
Had we saved electricity, buying energy efficient appliances and installing compact
fluorescent light bulbs but not planted a tree…Dayeinu? Would it be enough?
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Had we planted a tree but not safeguarded our forests…Dayeinu? Would it be enough?
Had we safeguarded our forests, writing to Congress and asking for stricter logging
restrictions but not cleaned up our streams…Dayeinu? Would it be enough?
Had we cleaned up our streams but not cleaned up our rivers…Dayeinu? Would it be
enough?
Had we cleaned up our rivers but not taught our children about the importance of
protecting our environment…Dayeinu? Would it be enough?
Third Cup – Beriah (Creation)
[Pour a glass that is half filled with red wine and half filled with white wine]
Reader:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
-Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914
Reader: In order to serve God, one needs access to the enjoyment of the beauties of
nature - meadows full of flowers, majestic mountains, flowing rivers. For all these are
essential to the spiritual development of even the holiest of people. (Rabbi Abraham
Ben Maimonides)
Leader: We now partake in our third cup of wine symbolizing the warmth and ripening
of summer. We pour half a cup of red wine, and half a cup of white wine to remind us
that growth is a gradual process, that although the trees are full and green and the
flowers have blossomed, their growth is not complete. So much more will be created; so
much more will come to be.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
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Leader: This section of our Seder is called Beriah or Creation and is symbolized by the
eating fruits that are entirely edible.
Reader: We eat these fruits to remind us of the wholeness of the world, that after each
day of creation, God paused, looking at all of his work, and remarking that it was good.
As we partake in these fruits we remember that although our lives may feel rushed, we
too must pause to look at the wholeness of God’s creations and learn to love and
appreciate them as well.
Reader: We also take this time to look at the wholeness of our own creations, to
examine our relationship with the world, making the necessary changes so that like
God, we might call our actions good. Do we recycle? Do we conserve energy? Are we
conscious of where our food comes from? What kind of cars do we drive?
We now take a minute to reflect on questions like these and make our own New Year’s
resolutions.
Everyday Conservation Actions
by Barbara Lerman-Golomb, Director of Education and Outreach, HAZON
Since the "Tu" in Tu B'Shvat stands for the 15th day of Shvat, we would like to
offer 15 tree and water conservation tips.
1. Dishtowels...the quicker picker upper.
Use dishtowels instead of paper towels for drying dishes and kitchen spills.
Think how many paper towels you need to match the absorbency of only one
dishtowel! Set up a simple system: one for spills, one for dishes, one for
drying lettuce and other veggies.
2. Think cloth napkins are only for formal dinners? Think again!
You can use cloth napkins for all your meals. Use them with a napkin ring to
help identify users for repeated use. By the way...kids rarely use napkins in
their school lunches, but if you give them one, they'll throw it away. A cloth
napkin in a child's lunch box will most likely go unused, yet saved.
3. Put Your Junk Mail to Work for You!
Instead of discarding junk mail, business mailings or any sheets of paper with
only one side of use, use them again for writing drafts. Keep an in-box or
recycling receptacle by your printer to hold sheets until you need them.
4. Yo, Yo Wrap!
Save previously used wrapping paper and use it again. Or, use swatches of
fabric, newspaper, reusable gift bags or a cloth sack for gifts. If you need to
purchase new wrapping paper, make sure it's recycled.
5. If it's Free, It's for Me!
Use toilet tissue and tissues with at least 50% "post consumer recycled
content" free of dyes, perfumes and dioxin. (The process of bleaching paper
to whiten it is responsible for creating the toxic substance, dioxin.) Stock up
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on handkerchiefs. Tip: Unused, vintage hankies are great finds in flea
markets or antique shops!
6. It's in the bag. The cloth bag, that is.
Keep cloth bags in your car, with your bicycle or by your front door for all your
shopping needs instead of taking a paper bag, or plastic bags (made of nonrenewable
sources).
7. The Three P's--Precycle, Practical, Preservation
Buy items with little or no packaging or in bulk that you can stock in your own
containers. Most stores carrying bulk items give money back for using your
own bags or jars. Buy food in cardboard packaging that can be recycled or
that has already been recycled (it's gray inside). Tip: Create file folders and
post cards from used cereal boxes.
8. Drink to Your Health
Keep a commuter mug in your car, in your backpack, at your office for a fill up
of your favorite beverage instead of taking a new paper cup.
9. Wood That's Too Good (to waste)
Avoid items made from rain forest woods such as rosewood, mahogany, teak,
or ebony.
10. Be Cool Keep a bottle of
cold water in the refrigerator instead of wasting water down the drain waiting
for it to get cold.
11. Don't Kick the Bucket
Keep a bucket in your shower (or outside to collect rainwater). Transfer it over
to watering cans or jugs to water your indoor and outdoor plants.
12. Go With the Flow
Take a shower instead of a bath and buy a low-flow shower head and a sink
aerator for your kitchen or bathroom faucet to conserve water. To find these
items, contact your local hardware store or visit www.greenpages.org or the
Real Goods catalog at www.realgoods.com to check out their products for a
healthy home and planet.
13. Dear John
Use a jug filled with water or stones to take up space in the toilet tank or buy
a special "toilet dam" so that less water is wasted. Or, conserve your flushes.
14. Clean and Green
Don't waste water down the drain while washing dishes. Fill the sink up
instead. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your face.
15. A Healthy Lunch box
A reusable lunch box or cloth bag; a thermos; reusable storage containers,
food that needs no packaging (e.g., fresh fruit) and a cloth napkin. Replace
paper plates with reusables for picnics or casual meals.
16. PLANT A TREE!
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[Serve any five of the following fruits that have edible skins and don’t have pits such as:
Grapes, Apples, Dates, Pears, Carobs, Figs, Raisins, Strawberry, Blueberries etc.]
or Fruit From a Tree
or Fruit from anywhere other than a tree
ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei ruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p
ri ha-eitz
adamah
essed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the t ssed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the ea
Fourth Cup – Atzilut (Nobility)
[Pour a nearly full glass of red wine with a drop of white wine]
Reader:
Master of the Universe, grant me the ability to be alone;
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day
Among the trees and grass—among all growing things
And there may I be alone, and enter into prayer, to talk with
the One to whom I belong.
May I express there everything in my heart,
And may all the foliage of the field - all grasses trees and plants –
Awake at my coming, to send the powers of their life into
the words of my prayer
So that my prayer and speech are made whole
Through the life and spirit of all growing things,
Which are made as one by their transcendent Source.
May I then pour out the words of my heart
Before your Presence like water, O Lord,
And lift up my hands to You in worship, on my behalf, and
that of my children!
—Reb Nachman of Bratslav (1772-1810)
Leader: We now come to our final cup of wine. Our nearly full cup of red wines
symbolizes the blooming and color of autumn, while the drop of white reminds us of the
cyclical nature of the season and the need to harvest and save for the coming winter.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
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Leader: The final section of our Seder is called atzilut or nobility and it is the only
section of the Seder when we do not eat fruit. Judaism teaches us that taste is
intimately tied to this world. Atzilut is a reminder of our transcendence from this world, a
chance to experience heaven if only for a short while.
Reader: The Talmud teaches us that “the apple tree has the fragrance of the Garden of
Eden and the fragrance of Garden of Eden was that of a field of apples." (Ta'anit 29b).
Each day we must pause from our lives to notice the small wonders of earth, the smell
of dew, the color of the changing leaves, the sounds of birds migrating south for winter.
Only then will we know God’s paradise and experience that which lays hidden in the
crevices of our world.
[Pass around a box of spices or a scented fruit]
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam borei minei v’samim
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, who creates different types of spices
Reader: The tree of life has five hundred thousand kinds of fruit, each differing in taste.
The appearance of one fruit is not like the appearance of the other, and the fragrance of
one fruit is not like the fragrance of the other. Clouds of glory hover above the tree, and
from the four directions winds blow on it, so that its fragrance is wafted from world’s end
to world’s end.” (Yalkut Bereishit 2)
Leader: From the very beginning of the creation of the world, God was busy planting,
so when you enter the land you too shall plant. (Leviticus Rabba 25.3)
Together, we will now plant parsley which will be used on Passover.
Together: O God, we thank You for earth and seed; for all things that grow. We thank
You that we are Your partners in planting.
We praise You, Adonai our God, for small seeds and rich earth.
(Plant seeds)
Conclusion
Leader: We have now concluded our seder. We have marked the four seasons, and
explored how each one is tied to our relationship with God and to the physical world
around us. As we finish, we remember that we have an obligation to care for the earth,
to utilize it while at the same time preserving it for future generations. May the New Year
be a year of growth; may it be a year of renewal; and may all our eyes be opened to the
wonders of creation. May we come to appreciate everything that is around us and may
we learn to build a brighter and better future for the generations to come.
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Sing Together: Turn, Turn, Turn
Words-adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes
Music-Pete Seeger
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
Together:
L’Shana tova uv’racha p’ri ut’nuvah
May the year be fruitful and blessed!
May the Jerusalem of our souls be rekindled
As we open our hearts to the world,
And take good care of God’s world.
L’Shana Tova!
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Appendix A
Citations
“Tu BiSh’vat Seder – Compiled by Marc Katz and Debra Eichenbaum”; A
publication of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in partnership with
the North American Federation of Temple Youth:
1. Trees, Creation, and Creativity: A Hillel Tu BiSh’vat Seder (Publication by the
Hillel Foundation)
2. The Tu BiSh’vat Seder (Publication by The Pirchei Shoshanim Shulchan
Aruch Project-2006)
3. THE TREES ARE DAVENING: A Tu BiSh’vat Haggadah Celebrating Our
Kinship with the Trees and the Earth- Dr. Barak Gale and Dr. Ami Goodman
(Publication by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life)
4. Tu B’shvat Seder - Rivka Zuckerman and Ilana Sobel (Publication by
Hagshama Department of the World Zionist Organization.)
5. Seder Tu Bishvat: The Festival of Trees – Adam Fisher (Publication by
Central Conference of American Rabbis – 1989)
“Tu B’Shevat Social Action Holiday Guide” – Compiled by Union for Reform
Judaism and Religious Action Center.
“COEJL Tu B’Shvat Haggadah” – Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
“A Seder for Tu B’Shvat” – The Tu B’Shvat Seder Toolkit, version 1.2 , Ari Davidow
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Appendix B -
10 Human Plagues
Climate Change – Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses into the
atmosphere, raising our global temperature, increasing the risk of coastal flooding, and
threatening nearly every part of our lives.
Deforestation – Trees are our most important natural resource yet a forest area the
size of 20 football fields is lost every minute to paper production.
Water Pollution –The United States dumps billions of tons of chemicals into our water
every single day, causing health problems for millions of Americans. In fact, scientists
predict that each year 7 million Americans become sick from contaminated tap water.
Lead Poisoning - Lead enters our ecosystem through industrial air pollution, corroded
piping, and faulty irrigation practices. Without intervention lead can cause kidney
problems and developmental disorders in children and can lead to stillbirths and
miscarriages in pregnant women.
Habitat Destruction – The leading threats to the diversity of species in the United
States are habitat destruction and degradation. In fact 80% of the coastline in the lower
48 states has been developed, thus increasing the rate of extinction to 1000 times the
background rate.
Mountaintop Removal –Mountaintop removal strip mining is the practice of blasting off
the tops of mountains in order to mine coal deposits underneath. When it rains the
residue from these mountains form sludge causing huge mudslides in West Virginia and
polluting drinking water.
Radiation Poisoning – Each year countless numbers of Americans are exposed to
higher than normal levels of radiation due to nuclear waste and improper x-ray
technology. Even small levels of exposure can cause cancer and immune system
malfunctions.
Factory Farms –According to the EPA, waste from hogs, chicken, and cattle has
polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated water in 17 states.
Additionally, factory farms do not treat God’s creatures with the respect that Judaism
demands that they receive.
Over fishing – Our current fishing practices are decimating fish populations, throwing
off natural food chains and allowing evasive species like algae to bloom. In fact recent
studies have shown that if current fishing practices continue all fish stocks could
collapse in 50 years.
Acid Rain – Acid rain is caused when human chemicals like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen oxides (NOx) mix with water vaper in the earth’s atmosphere and return as
precipitation, thereby destroying forests, poisoning wildlife, and affecting human health.
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Appendix C
For More Information
To learn more about forests, contact RAC Legislative Assistant Marc Friend at
mfriend@rac.org or 202-387-2800, or visit the following websites:
• http://www.rac.org The Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
• http://www.coejl.org The Coalition on The Environment and Jewish Life
(COEJL)
• http://www.americanlands.org/ American Lands
• http://www.earthjustice.org/index-1.html Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
• http://www.sierraclub.org/forests/ The Sierra Club
• http://www.fs.fed.us/ The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service
• http://www.wilderness.org/ - The Wilderness Society
• http://www.npca.org/ - National Parks Conservation Association
• http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/ - The National Resource Defense Council
forest page
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